'Sit still—sit still—don't move—never mind the fish—let him go—he'll break away with the fly and welcome.'
But it seemed to him cowardly advice too; and she one behind her father in the score. He sent a glance forward in a kind of desperation: no, there was no sign of the squall moderating, and they were a long way from the head of the loch. Moreover, the salmon, that was either a strong beast or particularly lively, had already taken out a large length of line, in the opposite direction.
'Do you think,' said he hurriedly, 'you could jump ashore and take the rod with you, if I put you in at the point down there?'
'Yes, yes!' she said, eagerly enough.
'You will get wet.'
'I don't care a cent about that—I will do whatever you say——'
He spoke a few words to the lad at the bow; and suddenly shifted his oar thither.
'As hard as ye can, my lad.'
And then he seized the rod from her, and began reeling in the line with an extraordinary rapidity, for now they were drifting down the loch again.
'Do ye see the point down there, this side the bay?'